YUGOSLAVIA: BELGRADE: JOURNALISTS DETENTION WRAP

Описание: (14 Apr 2000) English/Nat

According to the Beta news agency, a group of foreign journalists and representatives from a Spanish trade union are in detention at Belgrade's international airport.

The journalists - including four Japanese, one Canadian and one German reporter - landed on Thursday at the capital's Surcin airport.

Also on Thursday, about 200 activists from a student resistance group began a 90-kilometre march from the northern city of Novi Sad to Belgrade for the opposition rally against Milosevic.

Meanwhile, Milosevic himself was formally welcoming the new Australian Ambassador to Belgrade - the first time in several months a western diplomat has taken part in such a ceremony.

Immediately upon landing, customs police withheld the foreign journalists' passports.

Several hours later, they were led from the terminal to the V-I-P lounge and restaurant where they stayed behind closed doors all night.

Police reportedly told the foreigners they would have to leave Yugoslavia on Friday.

All reportedly had valid Yugoslav visas.

The three Spanish union representatives were to attend an independent union meeting in Belgrade.

Their hosts, Belgrade's Nezavisnost, or Independence Union called the detention of their guests a "primitive act of revenge" by the regime of President Slobodan Milosevic.

On Friday, an opposition rally will be held amid growing political tensions in Serbia, which is internationally isolated and impoverished a year after NATO bombing of the country.

The planned protest rally, to be held under the slogan "Stop the Terror, for Democratic Elections," is billed as the first big opposition gathering in Belgrade since August.

It's said to be a show of opposition unity and a test of public support for the struggle against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

So far, opposition efforts at plotting an effective strategy against Milosevic have had little result.

But public surveys indicate that the president's popularity has been plummeting despite his seemingly firm grip on power and continuing rivalry between opposition leaders.

Opposition leaders have warned that the government will try to hinder their efforts to bus in supporters for the Belgrade rally.

About 200 activists from the Otpor, or Resistance, student group on Thursday began a 90-kilometre (54-mile) march on foot from the northern city of Novi Sad to Belgrade.

In another attempt to undermine the rally, state-run Politika television announced it would broadcast "The Matrix" and other latest Hollywood hits to coincide with the demonstrations.

Also on Thursday, Australia's new ambassador to Belgrade presented his credentials to President Slobodan Milosevic, in a move touted by the Yugoslav government as being another step toward ending the international isolation of the country.

The move by Australian ambassador Charles Stuart marked the first time in months a Western diplomat has taken part in a ceremonial meeting.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Mr President, I have been appointed by the Australian government to represent Australia in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia"
SUPER CAPTION: Charles Stuart, Australian ambassador to Belgrade

The United States severed its diplomatic presence in Belgrade once NATO launched a 78-day air campaign to force Milosevic to end his repression of ethnic Albanians in the southern province of Kosovo.

Numerous other Western countries took the same step. Australia, however, has retained some links to the Belgrade regime.



SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Slobodan Milosevic, President of Yugoslavia



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